Nine Tahoe road projects to be aware of this season

A sign warns motorists of looming construction on Highway 28 as part of he Kings Beach Commercial Core Improvement Project's Core of the Core work. In related news, the project has a new website that launched Friday. Highlights of "KingsBeachCore.info" include an updated construction schedule and other FAQs about the mulit-million dollar project.

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LAKE TAHOE — Expect road delays ahead.

Nine major roadway projects around Lake Tahoe are planned this summer. While some are slated to start this month, construction season within the Lake Tahoe Basin is typically between May 1 and Oct. 15.

“We really encourage people to leave extra time when traveling through work zones and to slow down,” said Meg Ragonese, Nevada Department of Transportation public information officer.

Below is a summary of the projects:

1. Starting after Memorial Day, work will begin on the Mt. Rose Highway in Nevada, with a focus on its base. Roadwork will be done day and night. Traffic control and flaggers will be in place, with 20- to 30-minute delays expected for commuters between Lake Tahoe and Reno. This is part of a two-season project to repave and make safety improvements from the Mt. Rose summit to its junction.

2. Weather permitting, work on the Kings Beach “Core of the Core” project is expected to begin April 1 along the main stretch of Highway 28 by converting it from four lanes to three. Outside of the peak period of July 1-Sept. 7, work between Highway 267 and Chipmunk Street will be from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday, with Saturday work as necessary. One lane in each direction is expected to be kept open, with a maximum delay of 20 minutes. There will be no detours into the Grid neighborhood north of the highway.

3. From June 1 to Oct. 15, drainage improvements will be made from the junction of Highway 89 and 28 to half a mile north of Alpine Meadows Road. Work will done from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and will be off the highway by 10 a.m. Friday. A 20-minute delay is possible.

4. On the West Shore, a collaborative project between Caltrans and Southwest Gas begins April 14, weather permitting. Southwest Gas will replace and relocate existing natural gas mains and piping on a roughly 3-mile stretch in Tahoe City, north of Granlibakken Road to Ward Creek Boulevard, until Oct. 15. This work will be done on weekday nights. Caltrans will start drainage and roadwork May 1, weather permitting, along a roughly 3-mile stretch between Homewood and Tahoma, at Wilson Avenue to Cherry Street, until Oct. 15. Day and night work will be allowed weekdays. A maximum 20-minute delay in possible in each work zone.

5. From May to October, water quality improvements and paving will be done north of Eagle Falls Sidehill Viaduct to Meeks Bay. During peak season (Memorial Day to Labor Day), work will likely be from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday. During off-peak season, work will be during the day, Monday through Thursday, with no lane closures after 11 a.m. Up to a 20-minute delay is possible.

6. On the South Shore, a water quality improvement project from the junction of Highway 89 and 50 to Cascade Road is scheduled. Work may start late summer, early fall, or possibly not until 2015.

7. From May to November, water quality improvements will be done from the South Lake airport to the junction of Highway 89 and 50. Up to a 10-minute delay is expected.

8. A similar delay is expected for water quality improvements between Johnson Pass Road and Incline Road in Meyers, along Highway 50, from May to November.

9. From the junction of Highway 207 and 50 to 3.6 miles east of Highway 50, roadway reconstruction will be done on Kingsbury Grade. Before Memorial Day and after Labor Day, the roadway will be closed 24/7, with exception to emergency vehicles, residents, public transportation and access to business. Highway 50 will serve as a detour. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the roadway will be open, with one lane open in each direction during the day and one lane alternating traffic during night work. Up to a 30-minute delay is expected.